Ebola: Hand Hygiene Is Key to Preventing Infections

Surely you have heard about the importance of washing your hands before eating and after using the bathroom, but did you know that this simple activity is capable of protecting you from potentially fatal contagious diseases such as Ebola?

So is. Around 80% of contagious diseases are transmitted by the contact of the hands with the focus of infection, so constant hygiene is essential to reduce infections, although many people ignore the correct way to wash their hands.

From our Initial division, specialized in environmental hygiene, we have activated a campaign to inform about proper hand hygiene and give practical advice that can help prevent contagious diseases, especially after the World Health Organization in July ( WHO) will declare the “international public health emergency” due to the last year’s Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo that has claimed the lives of 2,000 people.

But is there really a risk of suffering Ebola?

According to the European Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (ECDC), the possibility of incidence is low, but not impossible. Recall that in the last epidemic of 2014-2016 – with a balance of more than 11 thousand deaths – there were cases of patients infected with Ebola in the United Kingdom, Italy and yes, also in Spain.

How to wash your hands correctly

The entire process should take about 20 seconds and includes the following steps:

Wet hands to wrists and add soap

Rub palms and backs

Rub fingers and nails

Rub the wrists

Rinse with plenty of water

Dry with a disposable towel or dryer machine

Other prevention measures

Public spaces are usually visited by large crowds and can become sources of infection of contagious diseases.

In this sense, it is recommended to take a series of measures to prevent being infected or infecting others:

Make regular use of soap or gel dispensers placed in public spaces

Take an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you, which works even in the absence of soap and water

Wash your hands before touching cars, computers or mobile phones that have been manipulated by other people

If you are going to cough or sneeze, cover your nose and mouth with the back of your hand or bring your face close to the inside of the elbow.